Russell Coleman was a member of the 1963-64 Blue Devils
Basketball team which led the nation averaging 117.5 points per
game. Russell also led the nation in scoring that year totaling
1,042 points and earned NJCAA All-American Honors. Russell averaged
32.0 points per game while at Centralia Junior College (Kaskaskia
College) highlighted by a record-setting 62 point
effort.
Russell was a top individual scorer and was integral to this
team winning the Mt Vernon Invitational Tournament, the Harrisburg
Invitational Tournament, the Southern Illinois College Conference
for two consecutive years, Illinois Junior College Championship and
in securing the title of NJCAA Sectional IV Champions. Russell led
the team to a State Championship in March 1963.
In 1986, Russell was inducted into the Centralia Sports Hall
of Fame for his All-State Special Mention Honors in the Chicago
American and the Champaign News Gazette.
After graduating from Kaskaskia College, Russell went on to
Loyola University in Chicago but before the start of the season he
answered the call to serve his country in the Vietnam War. During
that time, Russell was able to play basketball while stationed in
Germany. Russell returned stateside and resideded in New York
for twelve years before returning to Centralia, Illinois. He
remains an active volunteer in the local community serving on
numerous commissions and boards including the Centralia Hall of
Fame Committee and the Superheroes Mentoring
Program.